Charles and Jane Brehm

Charles “Chuck” Gale Brehm, 95, of Topeka, KS, passed away on October 26, 2026.

Chuck was born in Topeka, KS to John and Mollie Block Brehm. Chuck graduated from Washburn University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and graduated from the University of Kansas with a Master’s degree in Education. He met his wife of 70 years, Jane Romig, while they were both attending Washburn and Chuck was playing basketball for the Ichabods (where he is listed in the 1,000 point club for men’s basketball with a career total of 1,004 points). They married on July 26, 1953.

Chuck became the basketball coach at Durham High School upon graduation, before serving in the United States Air Force as a jet pilot from 1955-1958. He became the basketball coach for Labette County Community High School before he moved on to coach at Dodge City Community College (DCCC) in 1960. In 1964, the Conquistadors won the NJCAA national basketball championship and Chuck was named the NJCAA national coach of the year. He left DCCC in 1965 to coach men’s basketball at Fort Hays State University where he was named NAIA Division 10 coach of the year in 1971. Post-coaching, Chuck worked for Guarantee Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Kansas Insurance Department until his retirement in 1996.

Chuck was inducted into the Washburn Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979 for his achievements as an Ichabod player. He was also named to the Dodge City Community College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

Chuck was a life-long golfer and sports fan. He was a great role model and mentor for his many players and his family. Chuck and Jane were members of Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays and Lake Shawnee Golf in Topeka. They were also members of First Presbyterian Church in Hays and Eastminster Presbyterian in Wichita.

Chuck is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, sons Rick Brehm and David Brehm, brothers Louis Brehm and Dick Brehm. He is survived by his daughter Becky Outland, son Randy Brehm (Julie), daughters in law Flo Ann Brehm and Norma Brehm; grandchildren Nichole Switzer (Rachel), Shasta Outland, Mackenzie Brehm, Carter Brehm (Juliana), Amy Lewis (Chris), Alex Montero (Ariel); great-grandchildren Kaysen Cruz, Khy’Ree Biggs and Byrd Brehm; and many other nieces and nephews.

An open house visitation will be held from 1:00pm to 3:00pm December 12, 2026 at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home. Memorials can be sent to First Tee - Greater Topeka, firstteetopeka.org, 1020 NE Forest Ave, Suite 5, Topeka, KS 66616 to support the promotion of youth golf.

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Jane Louise Brehm, 92, of Topeka, KS, passed away on November 6, 2023, after a brief illness.

Jane was born in Topeka, KS to Glenn and Helen Scott Romig. She grew up on the Romig Dairy farm, the location which is now Romig Park in Topeka. Jane graduated from Topeka High School and Washburn University with a degree in Physical Education and was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority. This is where she married her husband of 70 years, Charles “Chuck” Brehm while he was playing basketball at Washburn University. They married on July 26, 1953. Chuck and Jane moved several times early in their marriage with Chuck’s service in the Air Force and to support his basketball coaching career, raising their children mostly in Hays, KS. She was the middle school physical education and health teacher in Hays, KS for a number of years.

She was an avid golfer until the year before her death and was a 6-time Kansas State Super Senior Amateur Champion. Jane was a big fan of sports and a follower of KU basketball and never missed filling out her bracket for the March Madness tournament. Her feisty, competitive spirit will be missed by friends and family. She loved her family and instilling family traditions.

Charles and Jane were members of Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays and Lake Shawnee Golf in Topeka. They were also members of First Presbyterian Church in Hays and Eastminster Presbyterian in Wichita.

She is preceded in death by her parents, son David Brehm, sister Peg Hazel, brothers Dick Romig and Tom Romig. She is survived by her husband Chuck Brehm; son Rick Brehm (FloAnn), daughter Becky Outland, son Randy Brehm (Julie), daughter in law Norma Brehm; grandchildren Nichole Switzer (Rachel), Shasta Outland, Mackenzie Brehm, Carter Brehm (Juliana), Amy Lewis (Chris), Alex Montero (Ariel); great-grandchildren Kaysen Cruz and Khy’Ree Biggs; and many other nieces and nephews.

Her visitation will be held in conjunction with Charles at the date and time listed above.

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